Aisha Sultan
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
ALTON, Ill. — Eugene Jones Baldwin came to pay his respects at the funeral of civil rights pioneer Josephine Beckwith in 2017. He had interviewed her two years prior on her 100th birthday when he learned a remarkable detail about her childhood — she used to baby-sit Miles Davis, also a native of this river town.
kAmq2=5H:?[ ?@H ff[ D2:5 2 q=24< C6E:C65 =2HJ6C 2AAC@24965 9:> 2E E96 D6CG:46]k^Am
kAm“*@F 5:5?’E ;FDE 4@>6 96C6 3J 244:56?E[” 96 C642==D E96 =2HJ6C D2J:?8] “v@5 D6?E J@F E@ HC:E6 E96 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 4:G:= C:89ED DECF88=6D :? E9:D 2C62]”k^Am
Eugene Jones Baldwin, of Alton, stands by the boat ramp giving access to the Mississippi River and Piasa Creek. This is a spot where enslaved people from Missouri crossed into Illinois.
Aisha Sultan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
kAmq2=5H:?[ 2 H9:E6 >2?[ C6DA@?565 E92E 96 H2D E96 HC@?8 4@=@C E@ E2<6 @? DF49 2 H6:89EJ AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D ?@ 4@=@C :? ;FDE:46[” E96 >2? C6A=:65]k^Am
kAm%92E 492?46 4@?G6CD2E:@? DA2C<65 2 J62CD\=@?8 >:DD:@? DA6?E 5:88:?8 E9C@F89 2C49:G6D 2?5 C64@C5D[ 367C:6?5:?8 2 =@42= 6IA6CE[ :?E6CG:6H:?8 5@K6?D @7 A6@A=6 2?5 7@==@H:?8 E96 A2E9 @7 2 H:?5:?8 4C66< E@ >2<6 2 DE2CE=:?8 5:D4@G6CJ]k^Am
kAmq2=5H:? C6EFC?65 E@ 9:D 9@>6E@H? 2 564256 28@ 27E6C DA6?5:?8 b_ J62CD :? r9:428@ 2D 2 A=2JHC:89E[ >FD:4:2? 2?5 65F42E@C] w6 925 ?@ EC2:?:?8 2D 2 9:DE@C:2? 2?5 925 ?6G6C AF3=:D965 ?@?7:4E:@?] qFE 96 92D 2 <?24< 7@C E2=<:?8 E@ A6@A=6[ 5C2H:?8 @FE E96:C DE@C:6D 2?5 2 7=2:C 7@C C6E6==:?8 E96>]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 9:D <6J >6?E@CD 8F:5:?8 9:D ;@FC?6J 92D 366? r92C=@EE6 y@9?D@?[ 2 q=24< 2>2E6FC 9:DE@C:2? H9@D6 9FD32?5’D 72>:=J C@@ED :? E96 p=E@? 2C62 EC246 324< E@ `gcd] p C6E:C65 65F42E@C[ D96 H2D 2H2C565 2 =:76E:>6 249:6G6>6?E 2H2C5 7C@> E96 x==:?@:D $E2E6 w:DE@C:42= $@4:6EJ 7@C E96 564256D @7 H@C< D96 92D 5@?6 5@4F>6?E:?8 E96 9:DE@CJ @7 p7C:42? p>6C:42?D :? E96 C68:@?]k^Am
Charlotte E. Johnson was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 by the Illinois State Historical Society for her contributions to the field.
Photo courtesy of the Madison County Historical Society
kAmq2=5H:? 2=D@ >6E y@9?D@? 2E q64<H:E9’D 7F?6C2= 2?5 4@?7:565 23@FE E96 492C86 E92E 925 366? :DDF65 E@ 9:>] y@9?D@? H2D :>AC6DD65 H96? 96 D92C65 9:D H@C< @? E96 %FD<6866 p:C>6?]k^Am
kAm“$@[ 2C6 J@F 8@:?8 E@ 5@ :En” D96 2D<65] w6 H2D F?DFC6] q2=5H:? 925 2 A6CD@?2= 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 DE@C:6D @7 E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25] w:D 8C62E\8C62E\8C2?572E96C[ (:==:2> w@=>2? y@?6D[ 925 H@C<65 @? E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25 :? |:49:82?] y@?6D =2E6C >@G65 E@ z2?D2D 2?5 367C:6?565 y@9? qC@H?[ 2 C25:42= 23@=:E:@?:DE 2?5 E96 7:CDE p>6C:42? 6I64FE65 7@C 4@>>:EE:?8 EC62D@? 7@C :?4:E:?8 2 D=2G6 C636==:@?]k^Am
kAmq2=5H:? 925 2=D@ HC:EE6? 2 A=2J 23@FE E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25 :? E96 62C=J a___D 2?5 H2=<65 E96 7:CDE `_ >:=6D @7 :E 2D A2CE @7 9:D C6D62C49]k^Am
kAm%96 :562 @7 7@C>2==J C64@C5:?8 E9:D 9:DE@CJ EF8865 2E 9:>] w6 >6?E:@?65 E@ 2 7C:6?5 =2E6C E92E 6G6?:?8 E92E 96 H@F=5 ?665 2? 25G2?46 E@ 4@>>:E E@ E96 H@C<] %96 ?6IE 52J[ 9:D 7C:6?5 D9@H65 FA 2E 9:D 9@FD6 H:E9 2 4964<]k^Am
kAm“}@H x’> 7@C465 E@ 5@ :E[” q2=5H:? E9@F89E]k^Am
A building from the 1904 World's Fair (foreground) and an apartment building (left) that was once a stop on the Underground Railroad in Alton, Ill.
Norma Klingsick
k9amr92?8:?8 E96 ?2CC2E:G6k^9am
kAm{2CCJ |4r=6==2? :D 2 7@F?5:?8 AC@76DD@C 2E v@G6C?@CD $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 2FE9@C @7 “~?H2C5 E@ r9:428@i uC665@> $66<6CD 2?5 E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25 :? }@CE962DE6C? x==:?@:D]” |4r=6==2? D2JD >@>6?EF> 92D 366? 3F:=5:?8 DE2E6H:56 E@ C6D62C49 E96 6IE6?D:G6 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25 D:E6D 2?5 564:56 9@H E@ 4@>>6>@C2E6 E9:D 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm{2DE J62C[ |4r=6==2? D6CG65 @? 2 @?6\J62C E2D< 7@C46 @? E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25[ H9:49 C64@>>6?565 4C62E:?8 2? x==:?@:D uC665@> %C2:=D r@>>:DD:@? E@ DFAA@CE 5@4F>6?E2E:@?[ AC6D6CG2E:@? 2?5 AF3=:4 2H2C6?6DD @7 E96 ;@FC?6JD @7 7C665@> D66<6CD] %92E :?4=F56D E96 D:E6D 2?5 =2?5>2C<D E92E H6C6 A2CE @7 E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25 ?6EH@C<] {68:D=2E:@? 4C62E:?8 E9:D 4@>>:DD:@? 92D A2DD65 3@E9 492>36CD @7 E96 DE2E6’D v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J]k^Am
kAm“%9:?8D 2C6 C62==J 3F33=:?8 2== @G6C :? x==:?@:D[” |4r=6==2? D2JD] %96C6 2C6 cah =@42E:@?D E92E 92G6 366? :56?E:7:65 2D A@E6?E:2= &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25 D:E6D[ H9:49 H:== C6BF:C6 C6D62C49 E@ 56E6C>:?6 2FE96?E:4:EJ] w6 DFDA64ED E96 ?F>36C H:== ?2CC@H 5@H? E@ a__ E@ ad_ 4@?7:C>65 A=246D]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 C62= H@C<[ 96 D2JD[ :D?’E ;FDE 23@FE >2AA:?8 D:E6D — :E’D C67C2>:?8 E96 DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm“%96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25 :D EC25:E:@?2==J D66? 2D 2 DJDE6> D6E FA 2?5 @A6C2E65 3J H9:E6 23@=:E:@?:DED[” 96 D2JD] “%92E’D ?@E 244FC2E6] %96 6?6C8J @7 E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25 42>6 7C@> E96 ;@FC?6J @7 E96 7C665@> D66<6CD]” !6@A=6 >@G65 :? C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 ;@FC?6JD @7 E96 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6[ 2?5 E9@D6 C6DA@?56CD :?4=F565 q=24< 72>:=:6D] %96J 2== DE2CE65 E@ 4@??64E H:E9 6249 @E96C[ 4C62E:?8 E96 ?6EH@C< @7 E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25[ 96 6IA=2:?D] #6D62C49 DF886DED E92E 2?JH96C6 7C@> c[d__ E@ f[___ 7C665@> D66<6CD 42>6 E9C@F89 x==:?@:D[ H:E9 E96 =2C86DE ?F>36C 4@>:?8 7C@> |:DD@FC:]k^Am
The Piasa Creek area is connected to the legend of the Piasa Bird, a mythical creature depicted in Native American cave painting. It is believed to be the route taken by dozens of enslaved people fleeing Missouri.
Aisha Sultan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
kAm#@4<J u@C< :? v@57C6J[ C:89E @FED:56 p=E@? :D H6== <?@H? 2D 2 <6J =@42E:@? @? E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25] pD 62C=J 2D `g`e[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 :ED 49FC49 H6C6 2 D2?4EF2CJ 7@C 7C665@> D66<6CD 6D42A:?8 D=2G6CJ :? |:DD@FC:] t?D=2G65 A6@A=6 H@F=5 4C@DD E96 |:DD:DD:AA: #:G6C[ 7@==@H E96 !:2D2 2?5 #@4<J u@C< 4C66<D[ 2?5 D66< C67F86 :? E96 2C62]k^Am
kAmq2=5H:? 7@==@H65 E9:D ;@FC?6J[ 2?5 :E =65 9:> E@ 2 =:EE=6\<?@H? 46>6E6CJ H:E9 2 ?@E6H@CE9J 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
The Arbuckle family fled from Missouri and settled near Piasa, Ill., for generations.
Photo courtesy of the Brighton Heritage Group
k9ams:G:?8 :?E@ E96 C6D62C49k^9am
kAmq2=5H:? =62C?65 E92E 2 |:DD@FC: D=2G6 @H?6C ?2>65 pC3F4<=6 925 72E96C65 D6G6C2= 49:=5C6? 7C@> E9@D6 96 6?D=2G65] %96J H6C6 7C665 27E6C 9:D 562E9 :? `gcb] s@K6?D 8@E @? C27E\=:<6 3@2ED @?E@ E96 |:DD:DD:AA: #:G6C] %96 A6@A=6 E96J 6?4@F?E6C65 :? p=E@? 56?:65 E96> =2?5:?8] %96J 4@?E:?F65 ?@CE9 @? E96 C:G6C E@ !:2D2 rC66<] %96J =67E E96:C 3@2ED 2?5 DE2CE65 9:<:?8] q2=5H:? 6DE:>2E6D E96J >2J 92G6 H2=<65 a_ @C D@ >:=6D]k^Am
kAm%96 8C@FA 6?4@F?E6C65 E96 (:=D@? 72>:=J[ t?8=:D9 56D46?52?ED[ H9@ 96=A65 E96> 6DE23=:D9 423:?D ?62C3J] r92C=:6 (:=D@?[ g_[ H9@ DE:== =:G6D @? E96 72>:=J 72C>[ D2:5 9:D 8C62E\8C62E\8C2?572E96C H2D 2>@?8 E9@D6 H9@ 2:565 E96 pC3F4<=6D] %96J =:G65 23@FE 2 >:=6 D@FE9 @7 E96 (:=D@?D 2?5 72C>65 E96:C @H? =2?5]k^Am
kAm“%96J H6C6 C62= H6== E9@F89E @7[” (:=D@? D2JD] }@?6 @7 E96 56D46?52?ED 92D DE2J65 @? E96 AC@A6CEJ] %96 72>:=:6D H@C<65 E@86E96C[ (:=D@? C642==D] %96C6 H6C6 76H DF49 :?E68C2E65 4@>>F?:E:6D =:G:?8 D:56\3J\D:56 :? p>6C:42 564256D AC:@C E@ E96 r:G:= (2C[ q2=5H:? D2JD]k^Am
Some of the graves at Arbuckle Cemetery are marked by stones.
Photo courtesy of David Mulvey
kAmyFDE @FED:56 E96 D>2== E@H? @7 !:2D2[ (:=D@? D9@H65 9:> 2 D>2==[ 9:556? 46>6E6CJ[ DFCC@F?565 3J 4652C EC66D 2?5 H:E9 @?=J 2 76H 9625DE@?6D G:D:3=6] w6 36=:6G6D E96C6 2C6 23@FE f_ 7@C>6C=J 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6 3FC:65 E96C6[ :?4=F5:?8 G6E6C2?D H9@ 7@F89E :? E96 r:G:= (2C] (9:=6 =@42=D 2?5 6IA6CED =:<6 y@9?D@? 92G6 =@?8 <?@H? 23@FE E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>24@FA:?]:==:?@:D86?H63]@C8^46>6E6CJ^HA2\2C3F4<=6]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmpC3F4<=6 r6>6E6CJk^2m[ :E H2D ?6H E@ q2=5H:?] w6 H2?ED E@ D66 :E C6DE@C65]k^Am
kAm“(6 H2?E E@ AC@E64E :E[” q2=5H:? D2JD] w6 H2?ED E96 DE2E6 E@ AFE 2 >@?F>6?E @? E96 D:E6 2?5 AC6D6CG6 E96 C6>2:?:?8 8C2G6DE@?6D] ~?6 @7 9:D 7@C>6C 4=2DD>2E6D 7C@> p=E@? w:89 $49@@= 4=2DD @7 ’ee[ w2C@=5 v2E6D[ C6>6>36CD 2EE6?5:?8 D68C682E65 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@=D :? p=E@? 6G6? 27E6C E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D qC@H? G6CDFD q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? 564:D:@?]k^Am
kAmv2E6D D2JD 96 2AAC64:2E6D E92E q2=5H:? 92D >256 E96 677@CE E@ :?E6CG:6H D@ >2?J A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 =:G65 E9C@F89 E96 4:G:= C:89ED DECF88=6D :? E96 C68:@?]k^Am
kAm“w6’D 86EE:?8 @FC G6CD:@?D 2?5 AF==:?8 E92E E@86E96C 7@C 7FEFC6 A6@A=6 E@ D66 2?5 C625 23@FE[” v2E6D D2JD] w6’D 8=25 :E H:== :?4=F56 DE@C:6D @7 E96 (:=D@?D 2?5 pC3F4<=6D]k^Am
kAm“(6’G6 2=H2JD 925 2==:6D[” 96 D2JD] “xE’D ?@E E2=<65 23@FE :? 9:DE@CJ 3642FD6 7@=<D :? A@H6C 5@?’E ?646DD2C:=J H2?E FD E@ <?@H E92E]” w6 D2JD E96 DFAAC6DD:@? @7 9:DE@CJ :D 56D:8?65 E@ <66A A6@A=6 5:G:565 2?5 2EE6>AE E@ 6C2D6 E96 3CFE2=:EJ 2?5 E6CC@C:D> 4@>>:EE65 3J D@>6 H9:E6 p>6C:42?D 282:?DE q=24< p>6C:42?D 7@C 9F?5C65D @7 J62CD]k^Am
The Arbuckle Cemetery is surrounded by tall cedar trees and has also been known as Cedar Cemetery.
Photo courtesy of David Mulvey
kAmq2=5H:? 766=D 96 :D :? 2 C246 282:?DE E:>6 E@ 86E 9:D 3@@< 4@>A=6E65] w6 92D 6?5FC65 >F=E:A=6 42?46CD 2?5 2 3C@<6? ?64< E92E >2J D@@? C6BF:C6 DFC86CJ] w6 A=2?D E@ D6=7 AF3=:D9 9:D >2?FD4C:AE[ “%96C6 xD }@ r@=@C :? yFDE:46[” H:E9:? E96 ?6IE >@?E9]k^Am
kAm%96 3@@< EC246D DE@C:6D @7 p=E@?’D 4:G:= C:89ED =6824J E92E 96 762CD >:89E 36 7@C8@EE6? @C 3FC:65 — 7C@> :ED D68C682E65 D49@@=D E@ E96 3C2G6CJ @7 y@D6A9:?6 q64<H:E9 2?5 E96 96C@:D> @7 q=24< D@=5:6CD =:<6 y2>6D z:==:@? $C][ H9@ 8F2C565 v6C>2? !~(D @? s\s2J]k^Am
kAmxE 2=D@ 56=G6D :?E@ F8=J ECFE9D] q2=5H:? 5@4F>6?ED 244@F?ED @7 C24:DE 4@>>6?ED 96 6?4@F?E6CD :? 6G6CJ52J p=E@?[ 7C@> =F?49 4@F?E6CD E@ @:= 492?86 DE2E:@?D]k^Am
Eugene Baldwin holds the photo of his ancestor who worked on the Underground Railroad in Michigan.
Aisha Sultan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
kAm“%96C6 2C6 A6@A=6 H9@ H@F=5 D:E 2?5 @A6?=J E6== >6 @7 E96:C 4@?E6>AE 7@C q=24< A6@A=6[” 96 D2JD] “%96 ?\H@C5[ x 962C5 :E @G6C 2?5 @G6C 282:?[ D2:5 H:E9 42=>?6DD]” pE E:>6D[ 96’D 2?86C65 D@>6 @7 E96 A6@A=6 96’D 492EE65 FA] ~?6 E:>6[ 2 4@FA=6 @7 >6? 492D65 9:> @FE @7 2 DE@C6 H96? 96 AF==65 @FE 9:D 46==A9@?6 E@ E2<6 E96:C A9@E@D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 92G6 366? D@>6 G6CJ 4=@D6 >@>6?ED[” 96 D2JD] p?5 6G6? E9@F89 96’D 2? 6=56C=J H9:E6 >2?[ 96’D 2=D@ 962C5 D=FCD =@3365 2E 9:>]k^Am
kAm“x 42?’E E6== J@F 9@H >2?J E:>6D x’G6 366? 42==65 E96 ?\H@C5[” 96 D2JD]k^Am
kAmq2=5H:? <?@HD 96’D 2=D@ D92C65 D@>6 A2CED @7 E96 E@H?’D 9:DE@CJ H:E9 C6D:56?ED H9@ 92G6 ?6G6C 962C5 :E] w6’D 6G6? 366? 2D<65 H9@ t=:;29 {@G6;@J :D] {@G6;@J[ 2? 23@=:E:@?:DE ?6HDA2A6C AF3=:D96C H2D >FC56C65 :? p=E@? 3J 2 AC@\D=2G6CJ >@3 @? }@G] f[ `gbf]k^Am
kAm%96C6’D 2 >@?F>6?E 565:42E65 E@ 9:> 2E E96 6?EC2?46 @7 E96 p=E@? r:EJ r6>6E6CJ]k^Am
kAmx7 q2=5H:? 92D 9:D H2J[ 2?@E96C 46>6E6CJ — @?6 72C >@C6 @3D4FC6 2?5 D64=F565 — H:== 2=D@ 364@>6 C64@8?:K65 2D 9@=5:?8 2 <6J 492AE6C @7 E96 C68:@?’D 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
Stay up-to-date on what's happening
Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
